Game number 21. Manager number four. The big question is now what the former Real and Bayern No.2 can bring to Swansea City to get the side hitting that magic number of 40.

Right now, it all seems a long way off for Swansea to haul themselves out of the bottom three, looking simply to take a forward step – albeit one against opposition that could seriously blunt belief if they are greeted with the kind of generosity recent rivals have found.

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Still, a new manager – for the second time this season – brings with it some new hope. The will for Clement – much more of a Swansea-like appointment – to do well is obvious and should see a change in atmosphere and hopefully an uplift in confidence.

They are in the intangibles. But what are supporters likely to see from Swansea against Arsenal to develop some faith that this Premier League campaign will not end with the club’s days in the top-flight numbered? What will Paul Clement’s Swansea look like?

Swansea lost to Arsenal earlier this season in Bob Bradley's first match in charge

Only when he gets up and running and feels his way into the Liberty dug-out – filling the space already held by Franceso Guidolin, Bob Bradley and caretaker Alan Curtis this season – will anyone be able to answer for sure, but looking at the clues, perhaps these are the signs to look out for as Swansea look to do a number on Arsenal this weekend.

THE SET-UP

Though Clement didn’t have a hand in the team selection in the Crystal Palace game just hours after his appointment, that he stuck with pretty much a ‘Swansea’ formation – a variation of a 4-3-3 – seems to suggest to expect more of the same against Arsenal.

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Paul Clement on the touchline at Selhurst Park with caretaker manager Alan Curtis

Add onto that the arrival of Luciano Narsingh – though not available for the visit of the Gunners with a minor calf complaint – then it’s clear that wingers will have their part to play. Whether he asks them to go wide or tuck in with more emphasis on the full-backs attacking might depend on the opposition and circumstances.

THE DEFENCE

One area that needs the most obvious work is the defence, though defending is not just about the back four. Clement has noted that Swansea’s failure to get behind teams – or penetration to go with possession as former colleague Brendan Rodgers once said while at Swansea – allows them to squeeze a midfield into mistakes and force the game further back on the defence.

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Lukasz Fabianski has had little protection from his defence so far this season (Image: PA)

Though the individual performances of the back four have deserved their criticism, the lack of ability to stop or track runners or even crosses has not helped. Clement will endeavour to bring a greater organisation to things, and it even might come at an offensive cost to begin with. His Derby team were notably tough to beat and break down – conceding just 26 goals in his 30 games in charge – and he will know that any hopes of building towards better results and performances will depend on making sure his defence are better protected, especially when it comes to broken play which may hint at less men being committed to attacks.

THE PLOY

Clement has a reputation for high detail and while he will avoid trying to do too much too soon in his early days in South Wales, he stressed in his very first press conference that players will know exactly what they need to do. He will want discipline from his players in terms of their game management and high work-rate.

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His high-praise of Fernando Llorente suggests he wants more of his hold-up ability to bring other runners into the game, possibly using him more as a wall-pass than a target for wingers.

Still, going back to the defence, he will not want to constantly invite teams onto a defence who have yet to convince and there are hints of using more of a counter-attack threat to keep rivals unsure of moving out and squeezing up.